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Post by easttex on Sept 3, 2016 4:59:29 GMT -5
I hope you both made it back safe and sound, and that Maya was just having a quiet spell. Please do let us know how Maya is, as I'm sure you will when you have a chance. I'll be thinking about you both and sending positive thoughts across the pond.
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Post by aaron on Sept 3, 2016 8:15:22 GMT -5
Keeping you and Maya in mind... Sending you positive thoughts. Keep us posted!
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Post by beccilouise on Sept 3, 2016 9:26:17 GMT -5
Thank you everyone, we made our train, Maya sat on my shoulder the whole way and preened. When we got to the vet, she absolutely remembered him and was NOT HAPPY! But the vet watched her for a little bit, weighed her, checked her poop and said from what he could see, it appeared she'd maybe been immunosuppressed with the stress of the last visit and picked up an infection. From the movement of her head, he said he reckoned it was a crop infection. He said we could take swabs and do bloodwork, but given what she'd been through recently, he thought that it wasn't worth the stress it would cause her. She's on a course of antibiotics to clear up the infection and has been a lot chirpier already today. She's eating fine, pooping fine and much more alert. I changed round the toys in her cage today and she's busying herself beating all the new toys up to show them who's boss! I expect she may have already got over most of the infection herself as she was complaining loudly by the time we got home.
I spoke to the vet as well about the blood leak in the air sac. The vet surgery is run by a man called Neil Forbes who is a really well known veterinary surgeon and has been practising avian medicine for 35 years. Neil says it is really rare but he has had it happen to him in a couple of occasions when taking blood, that it is unfortunate but not to be worried about it, as she has likely replaced the lost blood by now. What she needs for the next week or so is a constant environment and not too much excitement, so that is what I will provide!
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Post by aaron on Sept 3, 2016 12:35:28 GMT -5
Glad to hear things seem to be under control and Maya seems to be more chipper. Very good news!
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Post by Jan and Shah on Sept 4, 2016 4:46:47 GMT -5
Phew - I am so glad that Maya is okay. What a stressful time you have been through but it has all been worth it to see Maya getting back to her "old" self.
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Post by julianna on Sept 4, 2016 14:36:23 GMT -5
Happy to hear the good news. Maya is a strong little one... and is pulling through all the stress. It is hard for them to be put in someone else's hands... but sounds like all is well.
Whewww... had me worried there. Thumbs up Louise...what a great mom.
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Post by easttex on Sept 5, 2016 3:42:17 GMT -5
That's a relief to read Maya's doing better. How about you? Did you come through all this unscathed?
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Post by beccilouise on Sept 5, 2016 11:22:21 GMT -5
Thanks all, it's a huge relief for me that she is ok! I have suffered with quite a lot of anxiety over the last week or so and been trying to manage that. It's partly as a result of Maya's illness and partly some other personal life changes, but now that she is ok, I'm beginning to feel better. Thanks for the good wishes!
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Post by Murphyanne3 on Sept 9, 2016 20:19:25 GMT -5
Hello my quaker is skinny! I can feel his breast bone. What is a good to put some weight on his body? He is 3 years old, poops good, eats lots of healthy foods. He is active and looks healthy. Any ideas out there??
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Post by easttex on Sept 10, 2016 3:34:36 GMT -5
You should be able to feel the breastbone, but there should also be muscle on both sides of it. If you can tell there has been a loss of muscle, take him to an avian vet without delay. A healthy bird's weight will fluctuate some, but muscle loss is cause for great concern. You can't make safe assumptions based on his behavior. A parrot will look and act normally for as long as possible, to avoid being picked off by predators.
Do do you weigh him regularly? If not, you should get a scale that measures in grams. A postal scale usually works for this. Weigh him at the same time of day, under the same conditions. First thing in the morning, before breakfast and after a poop works well.
Good luck with him!
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Post by biteybird on Sept 10, 2016 4:55:15 GMT -5
Hi beccilouise, I only just saw this thread today. I'm glad Maya is doing better...what a scare!
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Post by beccilouise on Sept 10, 2016 16:32:11 GMT -5
Thanks biteybird! It was quite scary but a huge relief that she's ok.
Murphyann3, I second easttex's caution, a vet is the best solution. Quakers should weigh roughly between 90-140g though individuals may weigh slightly more or less. I weigh Maya every day so that I can easily detect a sudden fluctuation in her weight. Loss of breast muscle is cause for concern. A vet is the first port of call, then check his diet: are you feeding him a pelleted diet supplemented with veggies, fruit and seeds? Is he getting enough protein? Sprouted seeds and egg yolk are good for this. Is he getting enough exercise? The keel bone is where the flight muscles attach. Birds should, at the very least, have space to flap their wings vigorously to exercise their muscles. If safe and possible (which I know is not all cases), allowing your bird his flight may help to build up lost muscles. Hiding some favoured food in foraging spots also encouraged acrobatic behaviour, which can build muscle. I make Maya foraging toys out of old toilet roll tubes, bits of cardboard, tissue and put nutriberries in it. I hang it from the cage ceiling using a regular toy hook that screws closed and she had to tear the tube open to get at the food (I cut little windows in it so she can see them, but has to tear the tube to reach them.)
Before you consider all of the above, though, the vet should come first. Good luck!
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